An acquaintance through a Brother-friend, Jerome Lagarrigue is an artist I have long respected. I carried a post card from a show he'd had in NYC with me to PARIS, sitting it prominently forward on bookcase. This wonderous melange of color, stroke and form collided to become part of his monumental BOXER SERIES. It came to represent for me...just how tough I was going to need to be to endure...to get up with PURPOSE EVERYDAY and work...to FIGHT for the SONG I was there to craft and to ENJOY the FRUITS of my HARD FOUGHT LABOR of LOVE a PARIS!!!!
Far and above this sentimentality, was a true appreciation for this brother's skills. I had taken for granted that he was "an ARTIST" and friend I would encounter a Chez Metta-Jones. However, it was on a random day I happened to pick up a book of his BOXER series...be MESMERIZED by IT, then reminded by Carlton I'd just met the artist at dinner at their house. This brooding, then Father-to-be was so cool, quiet and dare-I-Say shy...I never expected THIS to be THE ART he was referencing in his introduction...lol.
INSTANT FAN.
Fast forward to Late August...Miche' invites me to the opening of Jerome's latest exhibit - VISIBLE MAN: a series of paintings of his muse Supermodel Shaun Ross. I get there at 8pm and they aren't trying to let anyone else in. I couldn't catch a glimpse of anything before security was requesting I clear the steps. I determined then to make a point of coming back and checking this out.
[On the way to the afterparty I happened to see a NICK CAVE exhibit at the Jack Shanamain Gallery - http://www.jackshainman.com/exhibitions/24th-street/; and a young artist Fahamu Pecou - http://www.lyonswiergallery.com/...as well. I was able to walk through this opening. This collection of seminal Hip-Hop era Fanzine covers from VIBE to THE SOURCE [or at least plays on the covers of the period
] were...smart, I guess!?
] were...smart, I guess!?
Each GOLD, Bling-INFORMED piece did have one similarity to the next -
THEY WERE ALL SOLD.
And the lowest price was $3,500.00.
I was in Awe.
I determined to make a trip to explore the visions of these other 2 Black artists currently showing in MAJOR GALLERIES in NYC.]
The after-party at La BAIN was...interesting and fun.
Fast Forward a week...
Shaun Ross's Albino Beauty is captured in Jerome's stroke...with an awe, reverence, curiosity, joy, respect, strength, tenderness, LOVE, TRUTH, clarity, and HonesTY that I had to SIT...and really Let the images speak to me...and they did.
He is an IMPRESSIONIST Babe, with a stroke to rival MONET's. Then there is the colors...ROTHKO never set a better...more meditative backdrop.
I LOVEd that He'd done these, as Shaun's star continues to ascend...but also because this is very timely exploration of every facet of Albino [CLEAR] Black Man from The Bronx...in various states of POSE - on the cross
Next Stop - NICK CAVE at the Jack Shainman Gallery.[ http://www.jackshainman.com/exhibitions/24th-street/]
My response to this work recalls my girl Nicol reaction to the first Basquiat we ever attended. She stood in Black-GURL disbelief, remarking, "He is UP THERE LAUGHING at US making such a BIG DEAL of his DRUG-LADEN Rantings!!!" Or something like that.
While I certainly appreciate Nick Cave's soundsuits, these pieces were abstracts on just what exists UNDER the skirt...let him tell it. These Grand QUILTS of FOUND ITEMS [re. JUNK] were mounted on random pedestals. Now...reflecting on it, the pieces were on things...in places...one might find a quilt. 
These sculptures represents the physical essence informing the construction of the quilt it is mounted on.
OK...I might vibe this...
I could go on...but, it is more important for you to experience it yourself.
Congrats Gentlemen
C'est Magnifique!!!
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